Process and apparatus for treating composite elements

ABSTRACT

In a process for treating composite elements of solid organic and/or inorganic composite materials-such as composites of metal/metal, plastic/plastic, metal/plastic or mineral composites with metals and/or plastic materials-solid particles are produced from the composite elements and they are added to a transport fluid, wherein at least one flow obstacle which crosses the flow of the mixture of solid particles and transport fluid is moved relative to said flow as a flow-breakaway edge for forming eddies which acceleratingly break up the mixture. The mixture is fed to the separation or break-up procedure at the flow-breakaway edge or edges with an acceleration of 20 to 25 m/sec 2  and the composite element is preferably crushed prior to the separation or break-up procedure.

The invention concerns a process and an apparatus for treating compositeelements comprising solid organic and/or inorganic composite materialssuch as composites of metal/metal, plastic/plastic, metal/plastic ormineral composites with metals and/or plastics.

Composite elements of that kind are for example tin-plated copperconductor tracks of circuit arrangements, fibre-reinforced plasticmaterials or copper-plated aluminium wires in co-extruded or laminatedform. Thus metal-metal composites--for example in the case of coaxialcables--primarily comprise a metal carrier, for example an aluminiumwire, with a galvanically or thermally applied copper layer, whileplastic-plastic laminates, in the situation of use involving packagingfoil for foodstuffs, comprise a plastic carrier formed by polyamides(PA) with polyethylene (PE) which is co-extruded therewith, laminatedtherewith or applied thereto by a lining procedure. Plastic-metalcomposites are also joined together by a lining or laminating procedure,for example in the case of a glass fibre epoxy plate as a carrier withthe application of copper as a base material for printed circuits.Metal-plastic composites include inter alia a carrier of aluminium sheetwith a protective foil stuck thereon comprising polypropylene (PP) forfacing or facade panels and weather-protective cladding arrangements.

Those composite elements give rise to problems in particular in terms ofdisposal as hitherto the materials in the composite have not beenseparated. Nowadays those composite elements are almost exclusivelydumped or burnt--which is not environmentally friendly--and they arethus taken out of economic circulation.

The composite elements which in future will have to be disposed of in anorderly fashion include in particular also residues from the packagingsector. It is precisely in that area that co-extruded and laminatedproducts have hitherto been irreplaceable as the materials in thecomposite have in combination excellent packaging properties.

In the conventional processing procedure, the composite element isbroken up by way of the grain or particle size which is smaller than therespective layer thickness of the components. This breaking-up operationis generally effected by using an at least one-stage very fine crushingoperation using suitable mills, for example hammer, impact orcounter-flow mills, possibly with the assistance of nitrogen forinerting and deep-freezing purposes.

The object of the present invention is to develop a process and anapparatus of the kind set forth in the opening part of thisspecification, with which composite elements can be so treated thatvaluable substances can be recovered; a further aim of the invention isthat the composite materials can be put back into economic circulation,without adversely affecting the environment.

That object is attained by the teachings of the independent claims; theappendant claims set forth advantageous developments.

In the process according to the invention, solid particles are producedfrom the above-mentioned composite elements and the particles are fed toa transport fluid such as air, wherein at least one flow obstacle whichcrosses the flow of the mixture of solid particles and transport fluidis moved relative to said flow as a flow-breakaway edge for formingdownstream eddies which acceleratedly break up the mixture. When themixture passes into those eddies, that involves both a sudden increasein the acceleration of the solid particles and also causes them to berubbed against each other, thereby breaking them up.

For that purpose it has been found desirable for the mixture oftransport fluid and solid particles to be fed to the separation orbreaking-up procedure at the flow-breakaway edge or edges with anacceleration of 20 to 25 m/sec² after the composite elements to betreated have been reduced in size--preferably to a grain size of 5 mm to30 nm--or have been compacted prior to the separation or breaking-upprocedure.

The composite substances to be treated by this process, before beingselectively broken up, are pre-crushed to form particles which are abovethe grain size of fine crushing procedures, and are then fed to theseparation or breaking-up zone and thus accelerated in an air flow. Theindividual substances in the composite are liberated, and the physicallydifferent metal layers and also the plastic layers separate from eachother. That mutual separation occurs along the phase boundaries.

Advantageously, during the separation or breaking-up procedure, aprocess temperature of between 10° C. and 75° C., in particular aboutambient temperature, should be used, and there should be a peripheralspeed at the flow-breakaway edge of between 50 and 200 m/sec, preferablybetween 70 and 180 m/sec.

By virtue of those measures, in the separation or break-up region, theadhesion between the components of the solid particles is overcome byvirtue of acceleration and frictional forces which exceed the forcethereof; separation of the components of the solid particles from eachother is preferably effected with the application of heat or with theintroduction of liquid and/or gas.

The following operating parameters in the separation or breaking-upregion are in accordance with the invention:

An acceleration of the solid particles of between 20 and 60 m/sec²,preferably between 23 and 53 m/sec², a peripheral speed of between 70and 200 m/sec, preferably between 72 and 180 m/sec, and a quantitativeair through-put of between 5000 and 8500 Nm³ /h.

Thus for example for composite elements with a high level of surfaceadhesion--for example a tube laminate whose aluminiun foil is coated onboth sides with LDPE (low density polyethylene)--levels of accelerationof 35 to 40 m/sec² and in particular about 38 m/sec², a temperature of70 to 80° C. and in particular about 75° C., a peripheral speed of 150to 200 m/sec and in particular about 180 m/sec, and an air through-putof from 5000 to 5600 Nm³ /h and in particular about 5250 Nm³ /h havebeen found to be particularly desirable.

For internal cladding arrangements in the motor vehicle industry--suchas instrument panels with ABS, PUR-foam and PVC-foils--or composites ofa corresponding construction, the following were established asoperating parameters:

Levels of acceleration of from 20 to 30 m/sec² and in particular about23 m/sec², a temperature of from 25 to 35° C. and in particular about30° C., a peripheral speed of from 68 to 77 m/sec and in particularabout 72 m/sec and an air through-put of 7800 to 8500 Nm³ /h and inparticular about 8100 Nm³ /h.

For the sector of coated wire bodies such as aluminium wires with ametal coating and a PVC-sheath, the operating values should be asfollows:

A level of acceleration of from 48 to 56 m/sec² and in particular about53 m/sec², a temperature of from 35 to 45° C. and in particular about40° C., a peripheral speed of from 80 to 90 m/sec and in particularabout 85 m/sec and an air through-put of from 6000 to 7000 Nm³ /h, inparticular about 6320 Nm³ /h.

It will be clear that the adjustable parameters of the breaking-upoperation must be adapted to the kind of solid particles which is to betreated; as indicated above, the particles are selectively broken up independence on their different physical properties--in particulardensity, tensile tearing strength, resiliency, thermal expansion andthermal transfer as well as elasticity and the molecular structuraldifferences connected thereto, and the adhesions of the compositematerials to each other are destroyed.

The selective breaking-up procedure causes the composite element to bebroken down into widely different structures, in which respect theindividual components also behave differently in terms of dimensions andgeometry, as a result of their different characteristics. It has beenfound that in the selective breaking-up procedure the components ofpolyethylene remain substantially unchanged while metal components, forexample of aluminium--which were previously in flat form--roll up andare deformed into onion-like structures. Plastic composites, for examplepolystyrene-polyethylene break up into different structures--withoutmarked deformation--, with clear distinctions in relation to particlesizes; they are considerably larger than the above-mentioned onion-likestructures.

The different breaking-up or deformation characteristics of the metalsprovide that the individual components become detached from each otherso that subsequently it is possible for the plastic materials, themineral fibre components and the metal constituents to be removedseparately. Thus for example the large particles are separated from thesmall particles as the products which are less substantially broken upremain in the sieve or filter while the smaller particles pass throughthe meshes. Further separation is made possible in a separating tableand/or by means of a fluid bed, in which respect the structures,densities and geometrical and gravimetric differences have the effect ofenhancing the operating procedure.

The above-described selective breaking-up operation is effected in anapparatus which provides a flow path for the transport fluid carryingsolid particles produced from the composite element or elements, forexample by a crushing procedure, which flow path is defined by a wallwhich is profiled transversely relative to the flow direction, and anarray of successive tools which are moved relative to the wall; thelatter respectively form in the flow direction at least oneflow-breakaway edge for producing a downstream eddy in the transportfluid and solid particles carried thereby. Preferably the tools rotateas parts of a rotor in a housing which includes the wall and whichconstitutes a stator. The breaking-up effect occurs in the roll-likeeddy in dependence on the adhesion and the layer thickness of the solidparticles, the residence time in that breaking-up region and theperipheral speed of the rotor, as well as the level of intensityachieved in regard to the eddies produced.

The material which has been pre-crushed is accelerated by tools of therotor in the air flow. In the eddies which occur in that situation--upto the ultrasonic range--the supplied material provides for a mutualbreaking-up effect. The individual substances in the composite areliberated and the physically different metal layers and also the plasticmaterial layers become detached from each other. In the describedmanner, the metal layers roll up and form onion-like structures. In thatrespect the diameter of the onion structures produced becomes a multipleof the layer thickness of the previously flat composite. Due to theirdifferent physical properties the plastic layers produce a differentstructure and geometry relative to each other and relative to the metallayers which in turn behave differently relative to each other or alsorelative to mineral constituents of the composite.

All in all this process operates in an extremely effective andenergy-saving manner. By virtue of the mutual breaking-up effect as aresult of the material impacting against itself the amount of wear onthe tools of the rotor is kept very slight, which has a very efficienteffect in operation on the service life and the availability of theapparatus or corresponding items of equipment. It is to be mentioned inparticular that the fractions finally occur in almost pure form and thusgo back into economic circulation in an extremely favourable manner.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention will beapparent from the following description of preferred embodiments andwith reference to the drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an installation for treating compositeelements,

FIG. 2 is a partial side view of FIG. 1 viewing along the arrow IItherein,

FIG. 3 is a view in section through FIG. 1 taken along line III--IIItherein,

FIG. 4 is a partly sectional elevation of a separation or breaking-upunit from the installation unit shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 5 is a view in cross-section through FIG. 4 taken along line V--Vthereof showing detail on an enlarged scale,

FIGS. 6 to 8 show perspective views of different embodiments of tools ofthe separation or breaking-up unit, on an enlarged scale,

FIG. 9 is a view in section through a part of a further separation orbreaking-up unit,

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a further tool,

FIG. 11 is a side view of FIG. 10,

FIGS. 12 to 14 show perspective views of parts of composite elements,

FIG. 15 is a view in cross-section through a composite element withreferences to the crushing effect,

FIG. 16 shows a graph relating to the dependency of the degree ofdetachment on particle size,

FIG. 17 shows a graph relating to grain size distribution when crushinga composite element of three components,

FIG. 18 shows the distribution of the grain sizes upon selectivebreaking-up in the separation or breaking-up unit, and

FIG. 19 is a graph relating to the separation of selectively broken-upcomposite materials.

Referring to FIG. 1, composite elements 10 of solid organic and/orinorganic composite materials such as composites of metal/metal,plastic/plastic, metal/plastic or mineral composites with metals and/orplastic materials, are crushed or reduced in size to a grain size of 5to 30 mm by producing solid particles in a pre-crusher 12, and fed byway of a screw 14 for metering purposes to silo containers 16. From thesilo containers 16 metering screws 18 convey the solid particlesproduced to a separation or breaking-up unit 20 in which they areselectively broken up.

In the separation or breaking-up unit 20 the composite elements 10 arebroken down into their components and the detached layers are fed in theform of a mixture by way of pipes or conduits 22 to a cyclone filter 24in order to be conveyed by way of a cell-wheel charging device 26 on toan elevator 28 for conveying the mixture of the components into furthersilos 30 for the purposes of intermediate storage. Connected downstreamthereof is a conveyor screw 32 by way of which and a further elevator28_(a) the mixture passes into a sifting or sieving device 34 in whichthe mixture is subjected to separation.

The mixture which is not made up of pure kinds of materials is then fedto fluid bed separators 36 for the separation operation. The componentswhich are each of an individual kind of material go from the sievingdevice 34 or the fluid bed separator 36 to an extruder 38 or to abagging station 40; the components of the composite elements 10, whichcomponents are now present as individual kinds of material, are passedto a procedure where they can be put to good use.

In FIG. 4 the separation or breaking-up unit 20 includes, within acylindrical housing 42, tools 46 on radial arms 44 of a vertical drivenshaft 45. The wall 43 of the housing 42 has an inside surface which isprofiled in respect of its cross-section, for example in FIG. 5 it is ofa corrugated or wavy shape while in FIG. 9 it is of a sawtooth-likecross-section.

The housing 42 which serves as a stator defines one side of the flowpath for the mixture of solid particles and carrier fluid, for exampleair; the other side, in the four stages indicated in FIG. 4, is definedby the tools 46 or by a tubular wall 48 which is disposed within theconstruction circle K for the tool positions of the radius r and whichextends between two plates 50 of each stage, which plates are disposedat spacings a from each other. The radius thereof is identified by r₁and measures from five to ten times the width b of a narrow annularspace 56 which extends within the housing 42.

The shaft 45, together with the stages projecting therefrom andconsisting of the radial arms 44, the tools 46, the tubular wall 58 andthe plates 50, forms a rotor 52, between the stages of which the twoplates 50 which are adjacent at the spacing e define a gap 54.

The mixture of solid particles and transport air is fed to the annularspace 56 of the lowermost stage, which is between the stator 42 and therotor 52, so that the mixture flows in the opposite direction to thedirection of rotation x of the rotor 52. In that situation, a downstreameddy as is indicated at Q in FIG. 9 is produced downstream of each tool46--as viewed in the direction of rotation x--, the tool providing aflow-breakaway edge 47. In that eddy Q the flow of mixture is abruptlyaccelerated, the solid particles are rubbed against each other and in sodoing are separated into their components. The peripheral speed of theflow-breakaway edge 47, the process temperature and the quantitative airthrough-put can be preselected for that purpose, as well as the shape ofthe eddy formation by virtue of the stator profile/tool shape pairing.

Before passing into the next stage the flow of mixture can brieflyexpand in the gap 54 in order then to pass into the following annularspace 56.

Referring to FIGS. 6 to 9, shown therein are tool shapes, although thesimplest tool shape, a radial plate which projects into the annularspace 56, is not shown. The through openings which are defined in thetools 46, 46_(a), 46_(b) by vertical ribs 58 or wall portions 59 formchambers 60 which alter the described eddy formation; the designconfiguration of the tools alters the levels of intensity of theturbulence effects produced and thus the effects on the compositeelements (acceleration, impact or impingement energy or the like). Thevertical ribs 58 produce chambers 60 which are extended vertically inside-by-side relationship and the wall portions 59 produce a pluralityof chambers 60 which are also disposed one above the other.

The tool 46 shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 provides two radial profiles 64which in cross-section are curved towards each other and which define anozzle gap 62; here the flow of mixture is already additionallyaccelerated in a second axis, upstream of the flow-breakaway edge 47.

Some examples of composite elements are intended to help to describe theprocess in greater detail.

EXAMPLE 1

Layer structure of a tube laminate as a composite element 10 in FIG. 12:

    ______________________________________    Component 70      LPDE 120 μm    Bonding agent 71    Component 72      Aluminium 25-40 μm    Bonding agent 71    Component 73      LPDE 180.    ______________________________________

The total layer thickness h measures here about 325-340 μm.

EXAMPLE 2

Layer structure of an instrument panel of a private motor vehicle as acomposite element 10_(a) in FIG. 13:

    ______________________________________    Component 70a       ABS 1.2 mm    2-component adhesive 71a    Component 72a       PUR-foam 3.5 mm    2-component adhesive 71a    Component 73a       PVC-foil 250 μm    ______________________________________

The total layer thickness h measures here about 4.95 mm.

EXAMPLE 3

Layer structure of copper-plated aluminium wires as a composite element10b in FIG. 14:

    ______________________________________    Component 70b:    PVC 500 μm (insulation)    Component 72b:    Aluminium .O slashed. 0.5 mm    Component 73b:    Electrochemical copper                      application 9 μm    ______________________________________

The total layer thickness (diameter d) measures here about 1009 μm.

The following operating parameters apply in regard to the aboveExamples:

                  TABLE 1    ______________________________________    OPERATING PARAMETERS                         Instrument panels                                     Aluminium wire              Tube laminate                         Example 2   Example 3    Product   Example 1  Index `a`   Index `b`    ______________________________________    Number of layers              3          3           3    Component 70              LDPE       ABS         PVC    Component 72              Aluminium  PUR-foam    Aluminium    Component 73              LDPE       PVC-foil    Copper    Layer thicknesses              70 120 μm                         1.2 mm      300 μm    Layer thicknesses              72 25-40 μm                         3.5 mm      .O slashed. 0.5 mm    Layer thicknesses              73 180 μm                         250 μm   9 mm    Total     325-340 μm                         4.95 mm     1009 μm    Entry acceleration              38 m/sec.sup.2                         23 m/sec.sup.2                                     53 m/sec.sup.2    Temperature              75° C.                         30° C.                                     40° C.    Peripheral speed              180 m/sec  72 m/sec    85 m/sec    Quantitative air              5250 N m.sup.3 /h                         8100 Nm.sup.3 /h                                     6320 Nm.sup.3 /h    through-put    ______________________________________

The layer thicknesses of the components are therefore between 9 μm and3.5 mm or 3500 μm. Acceleration of the material in the separation orbreaking-up unit 20 is between 23 and 53 m/sec², which corresponds to aprocess time of 0.015 to 0.078 sec.

With a peripheral speed of the rotor 52 relative to the stator 42 of72-180 m/sec, the quantitative through-put is between 5250-8100 Nm³ /h,with an amount of solid of about 500 kg/h. With higher through-putrates, the amounts of air are to be increased linearly.

The composite element 10, 10_(a), 10_(b) is selectively broken up byliberating the different physical properties of the composite materials--in particular density, tensile tearing strength, resiliency, thermalexpansion and thermal transfer as well as elasticity and the molecularstructural differences related thereto--and the adhesions of thecomposite materials to each other are destroyed.

By virtue of the treatment in the separation or breaking-up unit 20, thecomposite element 10, 10_(a), 10_(b) is broken up into very differentstructures, in which respect the individual components also behavedifferently in relation to dimensions and geometry, as a result of theirdifferent physical characteristics.

The composite elements 10, 10_(a), 10_(b) can be compacted, for exampleextruded, prior to the breaking-up procedure. It has been found that,with this selective breaking-up procedure, the constituents ofpolyethylene remain substantially unaltered while metal constituents,for example of aluminiun--which previously were present in flatform--are deformed to constitute onion-like structures. Plasticcomposites, for example polystyrene-polyethylene, are broken up withoutmarked deformation into different structures, with discernibledifferences in relation to the particle sizes; they are considerablylarger than the above-mentioned aluminium onion-like structures.

The selective breaking-up procedure causes the individual layers of thecomposite element 10, 10_(a), 10_(b) to be detached, without the layerthickness of the components being reduced.

A comparison between the particle sizes of the composite materialsbefore the breaking-up unit 20 (pre-crushed), the selective breaking-upprocedure and discharge after the selective breaking-up procedure, isshown in the following Table:

                  TABLE 2    ______________________________________                         Instrument panels                                     Aluminium wire              Tube laminate                         Example 2   Example 3    Product   Example 1  Index `a`   Index `b`    ______________________________________    Input:*    Layer thickness              ˜325-340 μm                         ˜4.95 mm                                     .O slashed. 1009 μm    Pre-crushed              8 mm       10 mm       16 mm    Structure Flakes     Granulate   Cylinder shape    Discharge:*    Layer thicknesses    Component 70              120 μm  1.2 mm      500 μm    Component 72              .O slashed. 100-180 μm                         3.5 mm      .O slashed. 1.8 mm    Component 73              180 μm  250 μm   .O slashed. 47 μm    Particle sizes:    Component 70              6.2 mm     8.3 mm      14 mm    Component 72              .O slashed. 150-180 μm                         3.9 mm      .O slashed. 1.8    Component 73              6.5 mm     9.6 mm      .O slashed. 47 μm    Structure:    Component 70              Flakes     Chips       Tube .O slashed.                                     (split open)    Component 72              Onion      Granulate (cubic)                                     Onion    Component 73              Flakes     Flakes      Onion    ______________________________________     *Mean values

In this procedure for selectively breaking up the composite elements 10,10_(a), 10_(b) separation of the components takes place in dependence onthe physical differences in the components relative to each other asbetween the respective layers. A crushing operation does not involvebreaking up a composite element in dependence on the physicaldifferences.

As already mentioned, the composite elements are conventionally brokenup to a grain or particle size which must be smaller than the respectivelayer thickness of the components of the composite element; that isintended to be made clear by reference to FIG. 15.

That situation involves a grain size distribution which is not given bythe components as such but by the required particle size, for example100%<300 μm. The degree of separation or detachment is plotted in FIG.16, in relation to the broken-up particle size G.

In this grain size distribution, as shown in FIG. 17, the components arehomgeneously distributed in a band width (amount M relative to particlesize G).

Separation can therefore be effected only to a limited degree in asieving installation.

If the layer thicknesses require very fine grinding--as for example inthe case of a tube laminate of aluminium, measuring 25-40 μm--thatinvolves a necessary particle size of <25-40 μm in order to be able toeffect separation.

That necessary particle size is unavoidably also achieved in regard tothe other components such as LDPE. Separation of the components isthereby practically precluded as the differences required for theseparation procedure do not occur.

In the described process the components are now present in differentparticle sizes. Contrary to a crushing procedure (fine grinding) --asFIG. 17 makes clear by reference to a graph in respect of the amounts Min relation to the grain or particle size G--the distribution in respectof size of the particles is not in superimposed relationship but injuxtaposed relation (FIG. 18).

The differences in the breaking-up or deformation characteristics of thecomponents mean that the individual layers become detached from eachother so that thereafter the plastic materials and the metal portionscan be separated.

Thus for example the large particles are separated from the smallparticles in a sieve as the products which have been less substantiallybroken up remain in the sieve while the smaller particles pass throughthe meshes.

That sieving operation is effected in a multi-plane sieving installation34_(a) which is diagrammatically shown in FIG. 19 and whose feed isidentified by reference numeral 75 and whose sieve layers 76_(a) to76_(d) are so designed that they correspond to the sieve sections 1 to 4in FIG. 18, which permits substantial separation of the components. Thusthe regions A, C and E already occur in the form of a single kind ofmaterial (flows A₁ ; C₁ ; E₁), while the flows B₁, D₁ of the region B(overlap amount component 1/2) and the region D (overlap amountcomponent 2/3) are then fed to a further separation operation onseparating tables and/or on a fluid bed, in which respect thestructures, densities and geometrical and gravimetric differences areused for separation purposes.

As soon as a metal and/or plastic fraction is obtained by the separationprocedure, the fractions can be compacted. That compacting operation iseffected by agglomeration and/or extrusion.

We claim:
 1. A process for recovering individual components of amulti-component composite element having at least a first component anda second component comprising the steps of:(a) providing a sizing unit;(b) sizing the multi-component composite element into a plurality ofparticles; (c) providing a multi-stage separation-deformation unitwherein each stage comprises at least one rotating blade proximate to acasing; (d) passing a fluidized stream to the multi-stageseparation-deformation unit wherein the at least one rotating bladeintersects the fluidized stream and is moved relative to the fluidizedstream to produce flow-breakaway edges for forming eddies; (e) feedingthe sized particles in the fluidized stream to the flow-breaking edgeswith an acceleration of between 20 to 60 m/sec² wherein the individualcomponents of the sized multi-component element are separated from eachother along phase boundaries due to acceleration and frictional forces;(f) subsequently treating the first component and the second componentin said multi-stage separation-deformation unit; (g) removing theseparated individual components from said multi-stageseparation-deformation unit; (h) separating the first component from thesecond component; and (i) further separating the first component and thesecond component by sizing.
 2. A process according to claim 1 whereinduring the separation the components are separated from each other withthe application of heat.
 3. A process according to claim 2 includingheating during the separation to a temperature of between 10° C. and 75°C. and providing a peripheral speed at the flow-breakaway edge ofbetween 50 and 200 m/sec.
 4. A process according to claim 3, wherein thetemperature is about 30° to 70° C. and the peripheral speed about 70 to180 m/sec.
 5. A process according to claim 2 wherein the air through-putis from 5000 to 5600 Nm³ /h.
 6. A process according to claim 5, whereinthe air through-put is about 5250 Nm³ /h.
 7. A process according toclaim 1 including a fluidized stream having an air through-put of from7800 to 8500 Nm³ /h.
 8. A process according to claim 7, wherein the airthrough-put is about 8100 Nm³ /h.
 9. A process according to claim 1wherein during the separation the components are separated from eachother with the addition of liquid.
 10. A process according to claim 1including feeding the sized particles under the following condition: anacceleration of between 20 and 60 m/sec², a peripheral speed of between70 and 200 m/sec, and a quantitative air through-put of between 5000 and8500 Nm³ /h.
 11. A process according to claim 10, wherein theacceleration of the solid particles is between 23 and 53 m/sec² and theperipheral speed between 72 to 180 m/sec.
 12. A process according toclaim 1 including feeding the sized particle under the followingcondition: an acceleration of 35 to 40 m/sec², a temperature of from 70to 80° C., and a peripheral speed of 150 to 200 m/sec during theseparation or breaking-up procedure for a composite element of highsurface adhesion.
 13. A process according to claim 12 with anacceleration of about 38 m/sec², a temperature of about 75° C. and aperipheral speed of about 180 m/sec during the separation or breaking-upprocedure.
 14. A process according to claim 12 wherein the compositeelement comprises a tube laminate of aluminum foil coated with LDPE. 15.A process according to claim 1 including feeding the sized particleunder the following condition: an acceleration of 20 to 30 m/sec², atemperature of from 25 to 35° C., and a peripheral speed of from 68 to77 m/sec during the separation or breaking-up procedure for internalcladding shells in the motor vehicle industry.
 16. A process accordingto claim 15, wherein the acceleration is about 23 M/sec², thetemperature is about 30° C., and the peripheral speed is about 72 m/secwherein the composite element comprises instrument panels with ABS,PUR-foam and PVC-foil constituents.
 17. A process according to claim 1including feeding the sized particle under the following condition: anacceleration of from 48 to 56 m/sec², a temperature of from 35 to 45°C., and a peripheral speed of from 80 to 90 m/sec during the separationor breaking-up procedure for wire-form layer material.
 18. A processaccording to claim 17 including a fluidized stream having an airthrough-put of from 6000 to 7000 Nm³ /h.
 19. A process according toclaim 18 including a fluid stream being an air through-put about 6320Nm³ /h.
 20. A process according to claim 17, wherein the acceleration isabout 53 m/sec², the temperature is about 40° C. and the peripheralspeed is about 85 m/sec and wherein the composite element comprises analuminium wire with a copper layer and a PVC-sheath.
 21. A processaccording to claim 1 wherein the composite element is compacted prior tothe separation.
 22. A process according to claim 1 wherein theseparation step is carried out on separating tables.
 23. A processaccording to claim 1 wherein said first component is selected from thegroup consisting of metals, plastics, mineral compositions, and mixturesthereof and said second component is selected from the group consistingof metals, plastics, mineral compositions, and mixtures thereof.
 24. Aprocess according to claim 23 wherein the first component and the secondcomponent are extruded after the separation operation.
 25. A processaccording in claim 1, wherein the components of the solid portions aredetached from each other or separated from each other with division ofthe layers of said composite material.
 26. A process according to claim1 wherein during the separation the components are separated from eachother with the addition of gas.
 27. A process according to claim 1wherein the separation step is carried out by means of fluid bedseparators.
 28. A process according to claim 1 including a fluidizedstream having an air through-put of from 6000 to 7000 Nm³ /h.
 29. Aprocess for recovering individual components of a multi-componentcomposite element having at least a metal component and a plasticcomponent comprising the steps of:(a) providing a sizing unit; (b)sizing the multi-component composite element into a plurality ofparticles having a size distribution of between about 5 mm to 30 mm; (c)providing a multi-stage separation-deformation unit wherein each stagecomprises at least one rotating blade proximate to a casing; (d) passinga fluidized stream to the multi-stage separation-deformation unitwherein the at least one rotating blade intersects the fluidized streamand is moved relative to the fluidized stream to produce flow-breakawayedges for forming eddies; (e) feeding the sized particles in thefluidized stream to the flow-breaking edges with an acceleration ofbetween 20 to 60 m/sec² wherein the individual components of the sizedmulti-component element are separated from each other along phaseboundaries due to acceleration and frictional forces; (f) subsequentlydeforming the metal component in said multi-stage separation-deformationunit; (g) removing the separated individual components from saidmulti-stage separation-deformation unit; (h) separating the deformedmetal component from the plastic component; and (i) further separatingthe deformed metal component by sizing.